BĚRĀKHÖTH. - First treatise of the MišMISŇAH (v.), in 9 chapters, contained in the twofold Babylonian and Palestinian Talmud. As the title “Blessings” (v.) indicates, it contains rules concerning synagogue liturgy and individual prayers.
It also touches, however, on a variety of subjects as occasion arises, such as the physiology of the various human organs (61), the value of salt and of cumin as a heart tonic (5; 44), the harm caused by insufficiently cooked vegetables (39), moderation in food and sleep (38; 62), the inconvenience of having to depend on others (6), respect for rulers (58), the interpretation of dreams (55-57), evil spirits (6; 62), the awareness of the dead (18), etc. God must be blessed, but without excessive praise (32), even when evil befalls us (60); He must
be prayed to with reverence (31), without prolixity (34) and without shouting (24), both for oneself and for one’s neighbour (12), both in private and in the synagogue, where the presence of at least 10 members is required (8; 47). The many examples of prayers concern the synagogue (16; 17; 20), morning and evening (7), and the most varied circumstances: from bloodletting to the satisfaction of natural needs (60). V. ŠĚMA' e ŠĚMŌMEH'ĚŠĚMĚ.